Layin' da SmackDown - SmackDown recap for August 9, 2024

"The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes heads to the ring to start tonight's show. Cody says that all eyes are on what happens next as he calls the Undisputed WWE Championship "the North Star of the industry" and is wanting to know who he will defend against at Bash In Berlin. The Bloodline (Solo Sikoa, Tama Tonga, Tanga Loa) shows up, and Solo Sikoa says he does not care what Cody wants to talk about or what the fans want to hear, and says he would be champion had it not been for Roman Reigns. Solo demands a championship rematch, but Cody says he could not get the job done, got Jacob Fatu hurt, caused Roman Reigns to go on a warpath when he cosplayed as Tribal Chief, and got himself beaten in the middle of the ring. Cody then says Solo is delusional if he thinks he has any claims to a rematch, and The Bloodline soon approach Cody. Suddenly, Kevin Owens shows up with two metal folding chairs and hands one to Cody. The Bloodline soon back off. Solo says that the title will be his after he finds Roman Reigns, and Cody says he will be right here waiting for him. Afterwards, Cody tells Owens he wants to talk to him about something, and Owens re-enters the ring. Cody admits that what he is about to mention will be awkward, then mentions that he would like to face Owens for the Undisputed WWE Championship. Owens says he appreciates it, but he does not deserve a title match, as he has done nothing to earn one. The fans soon chant that Owens deserve it, and Cody says that he and the fans have not forgotten the sacrifices that Owens has made. He says that Owens is still the prizefighter in the prime of his career, and that he is about to talk with General Manager Nick Aldis about why Owens deserves a title match, and that Aldis will see what he and the fans see and he will see him at Bash In Berlin.

Backstage, Byron Saxton interviews The Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins and Montez Ford) and B-Fab. B-Fab says The Street Profits are more than eager; they are motivated, determined and on point. Ford says The Bloodline (Solo Sikoa, Tama Tonga, Tanga Loa) are shaking in their boots, as Roman Reigns is back and they cannot get it together. Dawkins says it has been three years since they held championship gold and that A-Town Down Under (Grayson Waller and Austin Theory) are in the way.

The Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins and Montez Ford) beat A-Town Down Under (Grayson Waller and Austin Theory) in a WWE Tag Team Championship #1 contender's qualifier.

Backstage, Kevin Owens shows up as "The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes speaks with General Manager Nick Aldis about giving Owens a shot at the Undisputed WWE Championship. When Aldis says that it is a moot point as he is considering giving a title shot to Roman Reigns, Kevin Owens is flabbergasted, saying Roman is only getting it because of a rematch clause, and that he never got a rematch when he lost the Universal Championship. After Owens states that virtually anybody in the locker room is more deserving of a title shot, Aldis says that he and the fans both see what Cody sees in Owens and that Owens has gotten a title shot at Bash In Berlin.

Backstage, as Tiffany Stratton plans her party for next week, Pretty Deadly (Kit Wilson and Elton Prince) show up and ask Tiffany to plan their party for when they win the WWE Tag Team titles. Tiffany leaves, claiming he is busy, then runs into Chelsea Green and Piper Niven. Chelsea says she can see through Tiffany and knows she plans on cashing in on Nia Jax, but Tiffany calls Chelsea arrogant, oblivious and delusional and whips her hair at her as she leaves.

Jade Cargill beats Alba Fyre. After the match, Blair Davenport and Isla Dawn attack Jade and Bianca Belair, and Alba joins in. All of a sudden, Naomi shows up and runs into the ring, and when she gets double-teamed, Bianca and Jade make the save.

LA Knight heads to the ring with a new theme song. Actor Lou Ferrigno is seen in the front row. Knight says SummerSlam has come and gone, and that Logan Paul deserved to be stomped out and that he has arrived. Knight says the United States title makes him a marked man, but he has always been a marked man, that the game is still the same, and that he will hit it and quit it with each new challenger that comes his way. Suddenly, Legado del Fantasma shows up, and Santos Escobar congratulates LA Knight on winning the United States Championship and getting a taste of gold. He then says that LA Knight as a champion does not fit and that it will be a fleeting moment and an opening act to his championship reign, as it is "a fact of life" that he is the one who truly deserves to be United States Championship with everyone saying "Escobar, Si!" Knight says Escobar deserves to have the break beaten off of him one more time, and that nobody is taking the United States Championship off of him because he is not letting them.

We hear from Giovanni Vinci, who speaks in Italian as he states that he has become the man he has always wanted to be and that there are no losses, only lessons, and that he knows no limits and accepts no shortcuts. He says he does everything with style and hopes to bring that to SmackDown.

Santos Escobar beats Andrade to become #1 contender for the WWE United States Championship following interference by Carmelo Hayes, who pulls Santos Escobar out of the way of a Meteora as Elektra Lopez distracts the referee.

We hear from #DIY (Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa) backstage. Tommaso Ciampa says The Bloodline (Tama Tonga and Jacob Fatu) stole the WWE tag team titles while Johnny Gargano says The Bloodline beat him up in friends and family and that they will do whatever it takes to become champions again. Ciampa says that it starts tonight with Pretty Deadly (Kit Wilson and Elton Prince), as it is not "Pretty Deadly: The Musical," but "#DIY: The Redemption."

In memory of Kevin Sullivan, 1949 - 2024.

Backstage, A-Town Down Under meet with General Manger Nick Aldis, miffed that Kevin Owens can get a match just by asking for it while they have to qualify for a title. When Theory jokingly asks for a match between Grayson and Owens, Aldis makes it official for next week.

#DIY (Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa) beat Pretty Deadly (Kit Wilson and Elton Prince) in a WWE Tag Team Championship #1 Contender's qualifer.

Backstage, Tama Tonga tells Solo Sikoa that Roman Reigns is still not at the arena. Solo tells Tama not to worry, as he will soon show up. The Bloodline (Solo Sikoa, Tama Tonga, Tonga Loa) then head to the ring. Solo tells Roman Reigns that he is the Tribal Chief now, and if Roman calls himself the Tribal Chief and wants the Ula Fala back, then he can come and get him. Roman Reigns shows up, and Tama Tonga rushes at Roman only to get taken down. Tonga Loa goes after Roman only to be thrown into and smashed with the ring steps alongside Tama Tonga. Roman then gets in the ring with Solo, and the two of them brawl. Roman comes out on top with the Superman Punch, and Roman goes for the Spear only for Tonga Loa to save Solo. Solo leaves the Ula Fala behind, and as Roman takes it, he is attacked from behind by Tama Tonga and Tonga Loa, allowing Solo to take the Ula Fala back. Tama Tonga and Tonga Loa both receive Superman Punches as Solo retreats, and Roman hits Tonga Loa with the Spear. Roman then hits Tama Tonga with a Spear on the outside, and plows him straight through the barricade before grabbing a metal folding chair and smacking Tonga Loa in the back with it while Solo declares he is Tribal Chief now and dares Roman to get the Ula Fala.

Here are the highlights from tonight's show!